About Us

About our charity

The CATS Foundation was established in June 2011 by Daniel and Patricia Lewi. Their daughter Amelie was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs at fifteen months of age in March 2011 and at the time there was no UK based charity dedicated to providing support for families affected by Tay-Sachs or Sandhoff disease. The CATS Foundationâs main focus is supporting families affected by Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff whilst also raising awareness of the diseases.

The charity provides a support network, respite trips and vital equipment so that a sufferers quality of life is as high as possible. The CATS Foundation also provides funding to the research team who are investigating a potential treatment for both Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease.

Our services

Awareness raising

Funding research

Providing equipment

Respite tip funding

Funeral grants

Fundraising events

Meet ourÂ Team

Dan Lewi

Co-Founder & Charity Director

Dan is the co-founder of The CATS Foundation and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the charity along with managingÂ the relationships with medical professionals and other charity bodies in the UK and abroad.

Patricia Durao Lewi

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Patricia is the co-founder of The CATS Foundation and is responsible for the charity’s fundraising, family conferences and manages the relationship withÂ our European partner organisations and scientific community.

Nikki Backus

Family Support Officer

Nikki is the charity’s Family Support Officer and she is theÂ first point of contact for our member families and helps them through the devastating news of a diagnosis, providing care to a loved one and leads our family focused projects.

MeetÂ our Trustees

Katy Lewi

Trustee

Katy is a trustee of The CATS Foundation and is responsible for the documentation which the charity must complete. She is the aunty of Amelie who was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs in 2011.

Dan How

Trustee

Dan is a trustee of The CATS Foundation and is responsible for the accounting and audit of the charity. He is a big supporter of the charity and has undertaken many fundraising activities for it.

Llywelyn ap Gwilym

Trustee

Llywelyn is a trustee of The CATS Foundation and is the godfather of Amelie who was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs in 2011.

Meet ourÂ Patrons

Professor Tim Cox

Patron

Professor Cox, Professor of Medicine, University of Cambridge and honorary Consultant Physician at Addenbrookeâs Hospital was instrumental in the establishment in the charity.

Julia Ogilvy

Patron

Julia is a longstanding support of the charity and has close links with families affected by Tay-Sachs.

Stephen Whale

Patron

Stephen is the charitiesÂ web and IT specialist who has been instrumental in establishing our online presence.

Henry Lewi

Patron and research fello

Henry’s granddaughter suffers from Tay-Sachs and is our first nominated research fellow at the charity.

Brian Watson

Patron

Brian’s nephew suffered from Tay-Sachs and since his diagnosis he has become increasingly involved with the charity’s work.

MeetÂ ourÂ Family Patrons

Brad and Lauren Watson

Family patron

Brad and Lauren Watson have been strong supporters of the charity after their son Archie was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs.

James and Deborah Alford

Family patron

James and Deborah have been involved with the charity since it was launchedÂ after their daughter Isabella was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs.